Improvement in velocipede



*te thrilled ltnta' @met l @time f .....w-aeteaaew GEORGE PARRY, O1" PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 89,069, dated April 20, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT -IN VELOCIPEDE.-

Tho Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and maklng'part of the lame.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. PARRY, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, .have invented a newand useful Locomotive-Machine, actuated by pedal or manual power, which I denomi# nate he Excelsior Velocipede.

My invention is designed to provide a vehicle to be propelled by the rider, which shall be simple and-substantial in construction, economical in cost, easily operated, exempt from danger, adaptable to the gauge of any roadway or street-railway, susceptible of el'lcient and safe use without previous instruction o'r training on the part of the operator; free from lateral motion; not liable to be upset on encountering an obstruction or inequality in the way, when in rapid motion, and which is suited tothe use both of males and females.

Thevfollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of this specification, and representing-a front view of the machine.

A A represent the central frame, strong'and rigid, made of iron, steelfor other suitable material, from which depends the casing B B B that supports the riders seat, which is placed equidistant from each wheel, and below the line of the axles, thus preserving the equilibrium ofthe velocipede, giving it steadiness of" motion and enabling it to surmount obstacles with safety. i

From the front rim of the central frame extends the projection C, terminating in a horizontal crosspiece, D, upon which are pivoted the central cogwheel a. and the side cogs b .b, at the inner extremities of the horizontal arms c c, pivoted to the levers E E,

gui-it are axed by screws, or otherwise, to the slides These slides are tted to the outer rim of the cenvgrarframe, and serve as the inner bearings of the axles The slides are fastened to the central frame by dan ged plates at thetop and bottom, or by other appropriate mechanical means.

If desirable, the axles may be protracted inwardly and pass through the rim of the central frame, so as -to connect or disconnect with each other, vat the will of the operator, by means of a clutch, or other suitable mechanicahdevice. r

The outer extremities of the axles terminate in the hubs of the whee1s,stuated parallel to each other on a horizontal plane.

These wheels may be made of any suitable materials and dimensions. .i

lhe axles severally revolve on anti-friction rollers, enclosed in suitable boxes, H H, one of whichis placed near the hub of the wheel and the other nearv the slide F. c

The. anti-friction boxes are held in position by connecting-bars, or their equivalents, extending from one box to the other, and fastened thereto.

Between these ooxes, on each axle, is the crank I, which is rotated by the vertical lever K, to which motion is communicated i'om the treadle L, worked by the foot of the operator.

The treadle-bar passes through a slot in the vertical side of the casing, and is held in position by a pivot, or other suitable mechanical contrivance.

A crank movement, operated by manual power, may be substituted for the treadle arrangement to propel the machine.

The process of Asteering the machine is as follows:

The rider moves the tiller M in the proper direction to theright or left, which rotates the cog-wheel a that transmits motion to the side cogs b b, and these actuatc the horizontal arms c c, and they, in turn, impart a lateral movement to the levers E E, thatA operates the slides F F, whereby a forward impetus is communicated to one wheel and axle, and a corresponding backward impetus is given to the other wheel and axle, and thus the operator is enabled to guide the machine in any direction, and to change its course at pleasure'.

If desired, the velocipede may be steered by means of rods, cords, or their equivalents, connected with the' outer anti-friction box on each axle, and controlled by the operator by suitable mechanism in the front and rear of the central frame.

A brake, if required, may be used in connection with the running-gear to regulate thespeed of the velocipede and control its movement in descending hills.

' What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The steering-apparatus, composed of the projection C, terminating in the horizontal cross-piece D, the cog-system c, b b, the horizontal arms c c, the vibrating-levers E E, the slides F F, and the tiller M, or the equivalent of any of the foregoing constituent parts, arranged, constructed, and operating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

2. The combination of the steering-apparatus, the central frame, and the running-gear, arranged, constructed, and operated in the manner and for the purposes substantially as described, and forming a locomotive-machine, propelled, guided, and controlled by pedal or manual power.

GEORGE T. PARRY. \Vitnesses:

F. E. FnL'roN, W. OGLE. 

